SEX IS DEATH. [Working themselves to death]

I came to Carthage, where I found myself in the midst of a hissing cauldron of lusts. I had not yet fallen in love, but I was in love with the idea of it, and this feeling that something was missing made me despise myself for not being more anxious to satisfy the need. I began to look around for some object for my love, since I badly wanted to love something. — St. Augustine, Confessions

From AP via Yahoo News:

Filming of porn movies to halt during syphilis probe

I hope never to find out for sure, but I'll bet a syphilis probe hurts like the dickens.

A pornography trade group has called for a nationwide filming moratorium while performers are tested for syphilis and Los Angeles County public health officials investigate a possible outbreak of the sexually transmitted disease.

One performer has tested positive, and the performer's sexual partners are being notified, according to Joanne Cachapero, a spokeswoman for the Free Speech Coalition.

Imagine the spread sheet [sorry] needed to keep track of that. Or do they have have an app for that? [Introducing the "fap app".]

The voluntary, temporary moratorium on production is expected to shutter a multi-billion dollar industry "until the risk to performers in the industry has been properly assessed and all performers have been tested," the trade association said in a statement.

On Friday, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department announced an investigation into at least five possible cases of syphilis that were reported last week.

The syph is what got Nietzsche.

Cachapero said the group is calling on all performers, more than 1,000, to be tested. Because the illness can be difficult to detect, the trade group's medical experts have ordered preventative shots of antibiotics for performers. After performers get the shots, they can go back to work within 10 days, Cachapero said.

There's only 1,000? I'm guessing that's only the certified, registered, USDA Grade A types. Your "Lonely Amateur Anal Housewives Of Podunk" stars don't want no stinkin' antibiotics.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, syphilis is transmitted through direct contact with syphilis sores, which mainly occur on the external genitals, vagina, anus or inside the rectum. The disease can be transmitted through a variety of sex acts.

Variety is the spice of death.

A single shot of penicillin can cure a person who has had syphilis for less than a year, according to the CDC. Additional doses are necessary for people who have had the STD for a longer period.

See, kiddies? Thanks to medical science, there's nothing to worry about. You shouldn't mind if your kids want to be porn stars.

County public health spokeswoman Sarah Kissell acknowledged the investigation Monday but declined an interview seeking details of its scope or an update of its findings.

The porn industry has held self-imposed moratoriums following news of diseased performers before.

What about the huge quantities of illegal narcotics necessary to get these performers to ignore their consciences?

In 2011, major porn producers stopped filming for nearly a week after an adult film performer tested positive for HIV, which causes AIDS. The Free Speech Coalition said the case was later determined to have been a false report.

In late 2010, porn actor Derrick Burts was diagnosed as HIV-positive, and his case was confirmed, briefly halting production.

In 2004, at least five performers tested positive for HIV, prompting another brief self-imposed moratorium.

Hmmm...The porn zombie outbreak of earlier this summer appears to have been successfully covered up.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, an advocacy group that has called for the use of condoms in all pornography, said Monday that the industry is incapable of policing itself and protecting its performers.

Oh, sure, that'll fix everything.

The group is backing a November ballot measure that will allow Los Angeles county voters to mandate the use of condoms during pornography shoots.

Golly, kiddies, do you think that arch-conservative-from-the-waist-up George Will will write a column asking if an industry spreading disease and death is something our society should tolerate?

The Free Speech Coalition opposes the measure, saying the industry is a tight-knit community that has been proactive in testing and protecting the welfare of performers.